30 Aug Exciting Close to Mervue Equine Leinster Tours at the Irish Breeders Classic
Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour 1.35 Final
Following a consistent performance in the 1.35m division of the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour, it was Waterford’s Francis Connors and Rossa Lough Derg who were crowned the 1.35m Champions. Runner up in the league was Gerard Clarke and Lupins Lux Z, while the the leading young rider was Abigal Boland and The HurricaneFinal RoundAs expected it was a competitive class with 68 combinations putting their best foot forward in a bid to take home the winners share of the €3,500 on offer. Claiming the final leg was American rider Charlotte Jacobs when she partnered the Jason Higgins owned Rincoola Milsean to a clear in 34.82.Wexford young rider Abigail Boland kept all the poles in place with The Hurricane in 35.64 for second place. Aidan Killeen also kept all the poles in place with Helianthus H, but in a slower time of 35.95 for third place. Junior rider Eoin Brennan opted for the cautious approach with the Richard Bourns owned Ninparo and as a result they crossed the line with nothing to add in 37.62 for eventual fourth. Darragh Ryan filled fifth place when he partnered the Vivienne Digby owned Thebestof Dancer to a clear in 37.70. A sixth place finish for Francis Connors and Rossa Lough Derg when clear in 38.23 was enough for him to take the 2021 title.
1.20m Mervue Equine Leinster Tour Final
In the 1.20m final it was Antrim rider Joanne Blair that took the win, while Deirdre Doyle was crowned the overall champion. Blair took the final round when she was the fastest of 20 double clears aboard her own Mon Ami, in a time of 30.41. Robin Carey returned to the line-up, this time slotting into the runner-up place withCts Peanuts, when he crossed the line in 30.47. Little divided the next placing as Wexford’s Taylor Peare was fractions behind Carey on Lissyegan Geoffery in 30.99. No stranger to the winning line-up is Aileen McDermott(AA) and she didn’t disappoint as she took fourth place with Amber Balou, when crossing the line 31.57. Waterford’s Paddy O’ Donnell and Seefin Suprise also kept the poles in place, but their time of 31.93 saw them slot into fifth place, ahead of Paul Beecher and Danqu, who crossed the line with nothing to add in 32.26.
.10m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour Final.Taking the final win and the leading young rider of the round was Kilkenny rider Robin Carey, while it was amateur rider Aileen McDermott and Amber Balou took the over all title and the leading working producer title. 
Final legFollowing eight competitive rounds, the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tours came to a conclusion at the Irish Breeders Classic today. First into the ring to contest the final round was the 1.10m. Over 100 entries went to post in the first division and from those, 26 delivered double clears.Carey took the final leg, when he partnered Cts Peanuts to a clear in 28.63 seconds. Carlow rider Leonie Dunne and Cavalino 26 crossed the line in 31.16 for second place, and also took home the working producer prize of this round. Wicklow rider Kirsti Connole and Zazu Van Terhofstede, who followed closely behind in 31.62 for third. Another Carlow rider, Laura Walshe featured in the line-up when she delivered a clear with the eight-year-old Ballinaguilkey Heritage in 31.94 for eventual fourth, while Kilkenny’s Michael O’ Neill (AA) and Sambuca Paris Diamond’s clear in 32.61 saw them take fifth place. Completing the top six line-up was fellow Kilkenny rider, Marie Hartley(AA) and the eight-year old, Nikita Van Het Heidenfof, when clear in 32.83.